Jaishiv, we're sorry you are here and worried, but wanted to send you a warm welcome to the BC.org forums!

Until other members post with their own experiences and advice, you may find some helpful information in these articles from our main site:

Mammogram Results: Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System (BI-RADS)

Understanding Breast Calcifications

The Mods

Jaishiv, djmammo's link doesn't seem to work; here is a working link to the same page: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/milk-of-calcium-w...

By my interpretation of the the Radiopedia page, a fully visible cyst is not required to exhibit "layering on the lateral view". It says:

"Entities in which this feature could be observed include:

• fibrocystic changes-cystic hyperplasia of the breast: small crescents
• large simple breast cysts: large crescents"

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To djmammo's point, I believe that the words "loosely grouped" are meant to be interpreted together, not separately as "loosely" and "grouped". "Loosely grouped" means that the calcifications are pretty much not grouped. In other words, it's not a tight group, which would be cluster, but a loose group, which is closer to being a random scattering.

From my understanding, everything written on your report points to these being benign calcifications, supporting the Radiologist's BIRADs 3 assessment.

edited to add: djmammo, we were posting at the same time. Your graphic is really helpful.

Yup, that's what it means. That's good news!

Usually BIRADs3 are followed on a 6 month basis for at least a year and sometimes 2 years. That's why a stable result for you today still warrants the BIRADs3 and another 6 month follow up.

You're welcome! Good luck with the next follow-up in 6 months and let us know how it goes. It's alway reassuring to others to see situations where everything goes as expected.

What's the description of the calcifications?

BIRADs4 simply means a 2% or greater risk of malignancy and therefore a biopsy is recommended. On average, 70%-75% of BIRADs4 biopsies end up being benign.

When is your biopsy?

(By the way, it is better to start your own discussion thread rather than tag onto someone else's.)

Love, I was where you are about 2 months ago. Just trying to figure out what a microcalcifaction was. I would describe my lifestyle and current health similarly but my history includes a mom with survivable breast cancer twice, so I would say on was in denial on that front.

Anyway, the waiting is the absolute worst. The possibility it could be absolutely nothing to something of concern requiring treatment is more than most psyches can handle. But, you can do it.

I found the biopsy to be quite tolerable and my husband waited patiently in the car. It is a relatively quick procedure.

We're here for you while you wait. If you can get a copy of your report from your online chart or pick them up from the ordering provider on Monday you may feel better having more information.

To my suggestion, Loveadiandjunebug has started her own thread. I just posted to her there. The discussion should probably continue there rather than taking over Jaishiv's thread, and to keep all the advice and information in one place.

Jaishiv,

From what I've seen here, I don't think there is much consistency with BI-RADS 3 follow-ups. The first follow-up is pretty consistently done at 6 months, although in some cases it's done at 3 months. After that first follow-up, it seems to be all over the map in terms of how many follow-ups are done, and when they are scheduled. The good news is that you've had two follow-ups that show stability, and the radiologist is confident enough to schedule the next one 12 months out.

Breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) assessment category 3 https://radiopaedia.org/articles/breast-imaging-re...

BI-RADS 3 carries a management recommendation of short-term follow-up. The recommendation should be for the modality or modalities that best demonstrated the initial finding. While follow-up protocols differ across practices, a common schedule is at 6, 12, and 24 months. Once stability is documented for at least two, and at most three, years, the finding can be downgraded to BI-RADS 2(benign). If the finding develops suspicious features, such as growth, non-circumscribed margins, or suspicious calcification morphology, then it should be upgraded to BI-RADS 4 or 5.

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Bi-RADS for Mammography and Ultrasound https://radiologyassistant.nl/breast/bi-rads/bi-ra...

• The initial short-term follow-up of a BI-RADS 3 lesion is a unilateral mammogram at 6 months, then a bilateral follow-up examination at 12 months. Assuming stability perform a follow-up after one year and optionally after another year.
• If the findings shows no change in the follow up the final assessment is changed to BI-RADS 2 (benign) and no further follow up is needed.